JERZY DUDEK is not for sale - even if reports linking Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan with a January bid for the Liverpool goalkeeper have some foundation.

Reports today suggested that the Polish keeper, axed for Saturday's goalless draw at Middlesbrough, could be heading for an Anfield exit, with Gerard Houllier even reported to have "90 per cent completed" the signing of Bosnian international goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic.

But the Reds' boss insisted: "I have never heard of him. Jerzy Dudek is not for sale in any case."

Keegan is reported to be monitoring the situation, with 40-year-old David Seaman having endured an unhappy season.

Houllier added: "If, every time a player was dropped he was for sale, we would end up with about six players in our squad.

"We have just lost Steve Finnan to injury, with Jamie Carragher already out injured and Markus Babbel and Gregory Vignal out on loan. That should teach us a lesson."

Houllier added that the loss of Finnan for the next month with a calf injury was another cruel blow.

"We will miss him," he said. "I hope we will have him back for the busy Christmas programme because he is important to us.

"He has improved the defensive side of his game and he was already a good passer who doesn't give the ball away. I particularly like the way he takes part in our offensive movements."

Salif Diao is likely to deputise at full-back against Steaua Bucharest in Thursday's UEFA Cup second round second leg at Anfield.